Weizhou.

Zhang Huai carried a stack of ledgers toward the central military tent. He saw several armored soldiers carrying something along the road.

The squad leader at the front shouted, “The snowy road is slippery—everyone be careful! Don’t drop this coral jade!”

Zhang Huai remembered this blood coral jade. A few days ago, after news spread of Xiao Li assuming the position of North Wei’s lord, merchants had competed to send congratulatory gifts. This blood coral jade, being a full half a person’s height, was quite conspicuous among all the congratulatory gifts, so his impression of it was quite deep.

Zhang Huai called out to that squad leader, “Didn’t the master order all congratulatory gifts to be pawned and converted into silver for military provisions? Where are you taking this coral jade?”

Seeing it was Zhang Huai, the squad leader quickly clasped his fist toward him. After saying “Greetings, Military Advisor,” he said, “General Song relayed word that the master ordered all jade stones temporarily stored in the treasury, and to first pawn those gold and silver objects for money.”

Hearing this, Zhang Huai gave a slight nod, “The master’s consideration is even more thorough. During wartime, jade items lose value when pawned—they can be stored first.”

He instructed the men, “You may go.”

Only then did the squad leader lead the armored soldiers to continue carrying that blood coral jade away.

Zhang Huai turned his steps toward the central military tent. The tiger guard soldiers at the entrance, seeing it was him, did not obstruct and helped lift the tent flap.

After Zhang Huai bowed and entered, he immediately felt that while it was bitterly cold outside, inside was no better.

Such a large tent—not even a brazier had been lit!

Aside from blocking the wind, there was almost no difference between inside and outside the tent—it was like an ice cave.

Looking at the person behind the sandalwood desk wearing only ordinary single-layer clothing while processing military affairs documents, he felt his entire skeleton aching from the cold.

Generals and we scholars… were probably different.

Just as this thought arose in his mind, Zhang Huai recalled Zheng Hu from this morning, wrapped up like a bear, still shivering and shouting about the cold when climbing onto horseback.

That wasn’t right either.

Between generals… there were also differences.

Before the tiger guard soldier lowered the tent flap, Zhang Huai quietly reprimanded in a low voice, “How is it that the master’s tent doesn’t even have a charcoal brazier? Quickly go find one.”

Before the tiger guard soldier could speak, a low voice came from inside the tent, “I told them not to prepare a charcoal brazier.”

Xiao Li raised his eyes to look at the two at the tent entrance, saying to the tiger guard soldier, “You may go.”

The tiger guard soldier bowed, lowered the tent flap, and withdrew.

Only then did Xiao Li ask, “The roster of fallen soldiers is ready?”

But his gaze had already returned to the military affairs document in his hands that he hadn’t finished reviewing. Between his stern brow and eyes lay some not very obvious fatigue.

The desk was piled high with military affairs documents accumulated over these past days. The ones he had finished processing were also stacked high beside his hand.

Both Liao Jiang and Wei Qishan had died suddenly, leaving behind such a mess for North Wei. After he took over, not to mention dispatching troops to eliminate the small scattered barbarian forces previously dispersed within the borders, just the various matters of military handover alone were extremely tedious.

Fallen soldiers needed separate rosters for registration, then cross-checked against conscription records from each prefecture to prevent errors.

The compensation silver for these soldiers’ families was something that absolutely could not be delayed, even if the army was scraping by.

Additionally, the consumption of military equipment and armor in each camp also needed to be registered and recorded. What should be forged by the armory should be forged; what should be sewn by tailors should be sewn.

The Wolf Cavalry, which ordinarily required enormous sums just for maintenance, had suffered heavy casualties in two battles. To rebuild them required going to major horse farms throughout the northern border to select fine steeds, then selecting soldiers who could fight ten men each from various camps…

Now everything had piled up at once. Combined with this being Wei Qishan and Liao Jiang’s mourning period, Xiao Li for a time seemed to have returned to that period of counterattacking the barbarians. Processing these complex yet all requiring his review trivial matters, he had not slept well for several days in a row.

The Battle of Mount Yanle was a pyrrhic victory. The Battle of Luodu, which Wei Qishan had personally led troops to fight, could be called a devastating defeat.

With Wei Qishan’s subsequent death from illness, the entire North Wei could be said to have wavering military morale and depressed spirits.

Providing compensation for fallen soldiers’ families and stabilizing military morale was urgent. That was why Xiao Li had entrusted the task of compiling the roster of fallen soldiers to Zhang Huai.

Zhang Huai presented that stack of ledgers, saying, “It’s already been cross-checked against conscription rosters from each prefecture. After accounting, compensation silver can be disbursed.”

Without raising his head, Xiao Li said, “Put them down. I’ll look at them together later.”

After seeing Wen Yu that day, something in him seemed to have been completely cast into the past. New flesh and blood slowly grew under the title of North Wei’s lord. His emotions were rarely revealed anymore, making it increasingly difficult for his subordinates to gauge his temperament.

Zhang Huai thought for a moment but still advised, “Though the barbarian bandits were repelled, they are like the pasture grass below Mount Yanle—defeated and dormant under ice and snow each year, yet reviving each warm spring. We cannot be careless. The war to eliminate the Pei traitor is not yet finished. The northern border’s current situation is unstable, everything in ruins awaiting restoration, everything requires the master to preside over the overall situation. The master should take better care of his own health. Should I have someone send over a charcoal brazier?”

Xiao Li said, “I’ll need to go to the Wei residence for mourning in a moment. No need to trouble.”

Zhang Huai thought that today he would meet the northern border’s major aristocratic families for the first time as North Wei’s lord. Wei Qishan’s blood son still stood with the title of Great Jin’s prince consort. Those ministers of the Wei clan probably all had their own ulterior motives. Today’s funeral rites—who knew what trouble might arise. Thus he said, “When Huai came over, I heard several major aristocratic families have already entered the city. Then the master should also set out.”

Xiao Li gave an “Mm,” but his gaze still hadn’t moved from the document in his hands.

Zhang Huai saw that the stack of documents he had just finished processing was already piled quite high. About to move some aside, he inadvertently knocked a scroll off the corner of the desk.

The scroll had no binding cord. After falling to the ground it partly unrolled, revealing decorative rocks painted in fine brushwork and a patch of golden jade peonies. At the edge of the flowers, the corner of a white brocade gold-embroidered skirt hem could vaguely be seen.

Zhang Huai looked slightly stunned. Squatting to pick it up, a hand with long finger bones and skin marked with dark scabs from injuries not yet fallen off picked up the scroll before him, rolling it back up.

Zhang Huai recalled the seal at the inscription of the scroll he had glimpsed, as well as the year and month of the brushwork. His heart vaguely arrived at an answer about that scroll. He clasped his hands, “It was Huai’s carelessness.”

Xiao Li wrapped the binding cord around the scroll twice and placed it in the map tube beside him for holding scrolls. He seemed unwilling to say much related to that scroll, only saying, “Let’s go to the Wei residence.”

Having said this, he took the cloak hanging on the tent wall and took the lead walking toward the tent exterior.

Zhang Huai glanced at the scroll Xiao Li had placed in the map tube, slightly furrowed his brow thoughtfully, then turned to follow.

–

From the Wei residence being covered entirely in red silk to being covered entirely in white silk—barely over a month had passed. All the guests who came to offer condolences couldn’t help sighing.

Lady Wei knelt before the spirit tablets with her two children, only weeping continuously, presenting an appearance where grief had exceeded heartbreak. She was completely unable to receive guests. Everything depended on Wei Pingzin and Wei Ang to manage.

After offering incense, a noblewoman advised her to moderate her grief. Her eye sockets turned completely red, tears immediately rolling like pearls, saying sorrowfully, “He wouldn’t even wait to see me one last time before leaving like that. Wei Qishan’s heart is so cruel…”

Her gaze looked mournfully at Wei Qishan’s coffin, her eyes containing mostly resentment.

Wei Pingzin’s eyes were red from exhaustion. These past days he had grown accustomed to his mother crying to everyone about his father’s cruelty. Exhausted to the point of numbness, he said to that noblewoman, “Aunt Lin, guest rooms have been prepared for rest. I’ll have servants guide you there.”

As he spoke, he also called over a young maid to lead the way.

That aristocratic family lady repeatedly acknowledged. Seeing Lady Wei was already the mother of two children yet still acted like when she was an unmarried girl when encountering matters, her gaze was strange. Barely maintaining her facial expression, after consoling Lady Wei with a few words, she was led by servants to rest first. Meeting familiar aristocratic family ladies, glancing back at Lady Wei still wailing before the spirit tablets and denouncing Wei Qishan’s wrongs, all would avoid others to shake their heads and say in low voices, “No wonder she came from a small household…”

Not a bit of what a great family’s wife should be like—just fortunate destiny.

Wei Jiamin knelt beside her mother. Having been cherished and raised since childhood, she naturally could perceive those aristocratic family ladies’ strange gazes after seeing her mother crying and wailing without taking responsibility like this. Even looking at her, they added several degrees of scrutiny.

Wei Jiamin felt angry and also humiliated.

Wang Wanzhen, as the former Jin princess Wei Qishan had promoted, naturally had no reason to kneel before him, a mere minister. Wearing plain white clothes, she stood to the side. Every dignitary and notable who came to offer incense to Wei Qishan, upon seeing her, needed to first nod and call “Your Highness.”

Wang Wanzhen nodded and returned the courtesy one by one, dignified and amiable.

Wei Jiamin heard many aristocratic family ladies discussing in low voices.

“Is that the Great Jin princess found among the common people?”

“Looking at that bearing throughout—can’t be wrong…”

She herself, a county princess of a marquis residence, was scrutinized by these people with critical gazes. Yet one who had previously made her living in a common opera troupe, not even qualified to touch the threshold of singing for them, was now spoken of as if she were true gold branches and jade leaves.

Looking again at Wang Wanzhen’s gentle face like a false mask, anger suddenly surged greatly in Wei Jiamin’s heart.

Beside her, Lady Wei wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, still crying as if her liver and intestines were torn apart, “Wei Qishan, you have no conscience…”

Wei Jiamin had never felt such frustration that her mother couldn’t measure up. She was completely crying them—mother and children three—into laughingstocks!

Wei Jiamin forcefully suppressed her anger, “Mother, stop crying!”

Lady Wei was inexplicably scolded fiercely by her daughter and said sorrowfully, “I didn’t even see his last face. How can you expect my heart to feel better? He had your brother marry also because…”

Wei Jiamin feared she would bring up their family matters openly, making them even more of a joke. She sharply shouted, “Mother!”

Regardless of how Wei Qishan had been toward his deceased wife, during these ten-plus years, she and her brother had grown up in splendor outside. Whatever face should be given externally, Wei Qishan had never given Lady Wei one bit less.

Now Lady Wei, for that sadness about Wei Qishan not seeing her before death, pitied herself to the point of speaking without restraint, nearly spilling everything. Wei Jiamin only felt her entire head buzzing with anger.

Her tone was even fiercer than before. Lady Wei stared at her for a while, then suddenly covered her face with her handkerchief and wept, “He dislikes me—that’s fine. But you all also dislike me as your mother, don’t you?”

The mother and daughter’s dispute drew many people’s gazes. This was also a mourning hall with many guests coming to offer incense.

Wei Jiamin only felt her face burning. Nearly driven to tears by Lady Wei’s anger, she directly stood up and ran off.

“Minmin!” Having just seen off guests, Wei Pingzin heard the dispute sounds. Turning his head, he saw Lady Wei and her daughter somehow quarreling.

Lady Wei looked at her daughter’s retreating back as she left in anger. Kneeling on the prayer cushion, she cried sorrowfully, “You all dislike me… all dislike me…”

Wei Pingzin had not slept well at all during these days of keeping vigil. Now hearing Lady Wei crying like this, suppressing his dizziness and head-splitting pain, he was about to go console Lady Wei and ask what happened when another announcement came from outside the courtyard, “The lord has arrived—”

Wei Pingzin’s expression instantly became much colder.

Wang Wanzhen timely walked to his side. After whispering about what had just happened, she said gently, “Mother is overcome with grief. I’ll first help mother return to her room to rest. After settling mother, I’ll go check on the county princess.”

Having listened, Wei Pingzin’s expression had already turned ugly. He nodded permission.

Though he extremely disliked Wang Wanzhen this actress, if Lady Wei really spoke without regard and spilled everything, what he would lose today would not only be face but also all the power Wei Qishan had schemed to obtain for restoring Jin.

At the courtyard entrance, all the guests who had come for mourning had automatically made way. Xiao Li, wearing a black cloak, entered through the moon gate leading several subordinate generals.

Wei Pingzin’s expression unconsciously tensed somewhat. Wang Wanzhen also imperceptibly glanced toward the entrance before turning to support Lady Wei.

Though Lady Wei still cried, she knew her grief had been excessive. Accustomed to complaining about these things before her children, today she had nearly forgotten the occasion and spoken wrongly. Now when Wang Wanzhen came to support her again, she didn’t refuse.

Wei Ang had long since personally stepped forward to receive Xiao Li. While guiding him inside, he explained, “The lady became distraught upon seeing the lord’s coffin. The young… prince consort feared the lady’s excessive grief would harm her health and had Your Highness first take the lady below.”

While speaking, they had already reached before the mourning hall. Wei Pingzin stood on the steps wearing mourning sackcloth. Xiao Li gave him a slight nod, calling, “Prince Consort.”

Wei Pingzin’s expression went through several transformations but ultimately couldn’t produce a smile. However, since this was Wei Qishan’s mourning period, this didn’t count as too improper. He raised his hand toward the interior, saying with difficulty, “Go offer father a stick of incense.”

Though Xiao Li later had a falling out with Wei Qishan, he had initially agreed to become Wei Qishan’s adopted son. Now having received the position of North Wei’s lord, in outsiders’ eyes he was still Wei Qishan’s adopted son.

Those who couldn’t clearly see the situation were still waiting to watch these two “sons” of Wei Qishan openly and secretly struggle.

Those who already knew the inside story understood it was merely Xiao Li agreeing to let the Wei clan keep hanging on by a thread.

The shock of Wei Qishan and Liao Jiang’s deaths to North Wei was even more severe than everyone had originally anticipated. Currently it was only because Xiao Li was forcefully propping up the overall situation that people’s hearts below hadn’t completely scattered.

After Xiao Li received the incense passed by an attendant, he lit it before a candle, bowed three times toward Wei Qishan and Liao Jiang’s coffins, and inserted the incense into the incense burner.

Wei Ang could see Wei Pingzin’s stiffness when speaking with Xiao Li. Though Wei Qishan had instructed him many times in those final days, how could a temperament cultivated over so many years change in a day or two?

He didn’t dare let the two spend much time together. After Xiao Li finished offering incense, he immediately made a “please” gesture, leading Xiao Li outward, “The governors of each prefecture also all came today. The lord can meet them together…”

As soon as Xiao Li left the mourning hall, the guests who had originally stopped outside to watch the drama also all dispersed. The previously noisy courtyard suddenly quieted down.

As if everyone knew that he, this future Jin prince consort who would contend for the realm, was merely a laughingstock placed openly on the surface.

Wei Pingzin looked back at his father’s coffin. On his face, humiliation that even exhaustion couldn’t cover.

–

Wei Jiamin held a breath of anger in her heart. Running into the plum grove to hide, she cried fiercely.

Her earlier temper tantrum in the mourning hall wasn’t only directed at Lady Wei, but more so she resented those aristocratic family ladies’ clinging to power and influence.

When father was still alive, she had been the pearl of the entire northern border. They had always praised her endlessly. Throughout the four seasons, whatever banquets were held, they definitely sent invitations for her to attend. There were even those who shamelessly asked matchmakers to come to their door multiple times, trying to arrange a marriage between her and their sons.

Now father had just passed, and those aristocratic family ladies already dared scrutinize her like this.

The more Wei Jiamin thought about it, the more wronged she felt. Crying fiercely, she vaguely heard speaking voices coming from the other side of the bluestone path blocked by decorative rocks and plum trees:

“This plum grove at the Wei residence is maintained quite elegantly.”

“Didn’t you see those plum trees are all decades-old trunks? It’s heard they were planted by Lord Wei’s previous wife.”

The voices drew near. Wei Jiamin hid behind the decorative rocks. Through the cover of the rocks and plum branches, she saw two aristocratic family ladies who had come for mourning. Perhaps sitting bored, they had come to this plum garden to stroll idly.

With recent heavy snow, the residence steward had long anticipated guests would come here to admire plums, so he had commanded servants to shovel clean the accumulated snow on the bluestone path early this morning.

So although snow had started falling again now, it hadn’t yet accumulated on the small bluestone path. When Wei Jiamin came over earlier, she also hadn’t left footprints.

The two aristocratic family ladies probably felt there were no others in this grove. Their speech also became unrestrained. One said, “Lord Wei’s current wife is quite magnanimous. Seeing her small household manner at today’s funeral, I thought she wouldn’t be one who could tolerate others.”

The other aristocratic family lady in purple said, “No matter how intolerant, one must distinguish precedence, right? She’s a second wife—how could she surpass someone’s original wife?”

The blue-clothed aristocratic family lady who had spoken earlier shook her head, “In front of people she’s already like this. Who knows how she teaches her pair of children behind closed doors. That County Princess Jiamin was raised with a domineering temperament from before, eyes growing on top of her head. After picking through all the young men of the northern border, she couldn’t pick one that suited her heart. Now that Lord Wei has passed, even if she doesn’t observe three years of deep mourning, finding a husband’s family will probably be difficult to find an appropriate family status.”

The purple-clothed aristocratic family lady said, “It’s heard that when Lord Wei was alive, he wanted to matchmake County Princess Jiamin with that adopted son of his, but was refused by that adopted son.”

The blue-clothed aristocratic family lady heard this and laughed “Pfft,” half-covering her lips with a silk handkerchief, “There was actually such a thing? Could it be he had already heard of County Princess Jiamin’s domineering reputation?”

The purple-clothed aristocratic family lady broke off a branch of plum blossoms blooming excellently, saying, “Don’t mock too early. Lord Wei’s adopted son now has received the position of North Wei’s new lord. For the Wei clan to be so assured, it’s not impossible their marriage is still valid.”

The blue-clothed aristocratic family lady made a “tch” sound, dismissively saying, “Then we’ll talk when their marriage becomes real.”

As the two spoke, they had moved increasingly far from that decorative rock. Wei Jiamin hiding behind the decorative rocks was so angry she snapped the plum branch at her hand. Her chest felt like it had been scorched by fire—stifled, oppressed, and painfully stabbing.

She looked with hatred at the two’s retreating backs, silently hurrying toward the plum grove entrance.

The two aristocratic family ladies were still admiring plums in the grove, completely unaware their earlier words had all been heard by Wei Jiamin.

The purple-clothed aristocratic family lady asked the blue-clothed aristocratic family lady, “From your tone, it seems you quite dislike County Princess Jiamin?”

Bringing up this topic, the blue-clothed aristocratic family lady felt stifled in her heart, “Two years ago in early spring, the Wei marquis residence held that polo match. My Lin’er played polo well and stole a ball from County Princess Jiamin. She immediately was charged by her horse and fell off. She even rode her horse charging toward my Lin’er like that. That horse hoof nearly stepped on my Lin’er’s face!”

To this day, the blue-clothed aristocratic family lady still felt heartbroken mentioning it, “That useless waste in my family didn’t dare seek justice for his daughter. He even took the initiative to shamelessly help make excuses, saying something about how on the ball field sticks and clubs have no eyes. His daughter’s life was nearly gone—he couldn’t see it. Instead he worried County Princess Jiamin was frightened…”

–

After Wang Wanzhen attended to Lady Wei returning to her room to rest, she lowered the bed curtains, “Then Madam, you rest first. I’ll go find the county princess back.”

In private, she still addressed Lady Wei as “Madam,” her propriety so thorough that even though Lady Wei disliked her, she couldn’t find half a fault.

However, Lady Wei still wasn’t very willing to engage with Wang Wanzhen. Half-closing her eyes, she nodded once, then called her own maid to brew warm tea to bring in.

Wang Wanzhen glanced at the hot tea she had brewed and placed on the tall side table by the bed. She said nothing, her expression compliant as she withdrew from the room.

But Wei Jiamin didn’t know from where she had run back. The boots on her feet were still stained with much snowy mud. Entering the courtyard, she called “Mother” with reddened eyes.

When Wei Jiamin hurriedly walked past her side, Wang Wanzhen curtsied and called “County Princess.”

But Wei Jiamin acted as if she hadn’t heard, completely ignoring her.

After rushing into the room, she threw herself beside Lady Wei and cried loudly.

Lady Wei, seeing her daughter return weeping like this, was instantly also drawn to tears. While stroking Wei Jiamin’s hair to comfort her, she asked where she had gone.

Wang Wanzhen knew that standing at the door seemed somewhat superfluous. She said, “Since the county princess has returned, I’m also relieved. I’ll go help at my husband’s side.”

Having said this, she closed the room door, but grew an extra mind and didn’t leave. She only used her gaze to signal her maid to leave first.

Inside the room, after Wei Jiamin cried in Lady Wei’s embrace for a while, she finally said chokingly, “Mother, with father gone, everyone has started to watch us as laughingstocks.”

She awkwardly wiped her eyes, saying, “I won’t let them see the laughingstock. I’m willing to marry that mudleg who snatched brother’s lord position.”

Lady Wei’s sorrow welled up. Holding her daughter she cried, “My bitter-fated Minmin…”

But Wei Jiamin seemed to have made this decision after deep consideration. Though her voice contained sobbing, it was very firm, “He wants to quickly consolidate military morale and make the Wei clan generals submit to him. Marrying me is also the best choice. For military authority, he also definitely won’t dare mistreat me. I only want the title of the lord’s wife.”

Separated by one door, Wang Wanzhen’s expression darkened somewhat. She quietly left the courtyard.

Returning to the main courtyard where the mourning hall was set up, she didn’t see Wei Pingzin. Asking servants, she learned Wei Pingzin had gone to the side room to rest temporarily.

She went to the side room. After dismissing the servants originally left on guard, her face no longer showed half a bit of gentle expression. Her tone slightly cold, she said to the person with legs propped on a low table, back leaning against the grand master chair with head tilted back and eyes closed resting, “Does husband know what your good sister and your mother are scheming?”

Wei Pingzin wearily opened his bloodshot eyes.

Wang Wanzhen said mockingly, “Husband’s good sister is scheming to marry Xiao Li, thereby helping Xiao Li win over your Wei clan ministers and generals!”

Wei Pingzin directly draped the mourning cloth over his eyes and continued sleeping.

This action undoubtedly enraged Wang Wanzhen. She stared at Wei Pingzin, “Husband is willing to let everything the lord left behind be seized by that surnamed Xiao? In the future when you inherit the throne, she Wei Jiamin will be princess imperial. What would be lacking in treating her? She wants to help an outsider seize the power in your hands!”

Wei Pingzin was annoyed by the clamoring. He ripped off the mourning cloth blocking his eyes. Unwillingness and hatred filled his eyes with even heavier blood intent. His handsome features revealed a ferociousness. Forcibly restraining his temper, he said, “Having Minmin marry that surnamed Xiao was my father’s intention before death! Minmin is already willing to marry such a mudleg and humble herself for the entire Wei clan. If I hear you say one more bad word about Minmin…”

He almost crushed the mourning cloth in his hand, pointing at Wang Wanzhen, “Don’t blame me for hitting a woman!”

Even though Wang Wanzhen didn’t understand political affairs, she realized that what Wei Qishan had arranged for Wei Pingzin as a way out before dying was to have him be a puppet monarch in Xiao Li’s hands!

Then what was she pretending to be this former Jin princess for?

Bowing and scraping to the very end—even if she bore children, it would still be making wedding clothes for others?

Wang Wanzhen was almost laughing with anger. She mocked Wei Pingzin, “You’re really quite a man—handing over your Wei family’s things to outsiders with both hands, also having to include a sister to serve the other party, helping the other party better consolidate your Wei clan’s power!”

Wei Pingzin swung his hand and gave Wang Wanzhen a slap. His rage made the veins on both sides of his temples bulge. Blood intent rolled in his eyes. Only one trace of remaining rationality pressed down, “My Wei family’s affairs—it’s not the turn of you, a lowly actress, to comment! Get out!”